Wire-cleaning apparatus



July 1927' c. E. YOUNGCHILD WIRE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 13 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 1927' c. E. YOUNGCHILD WIRE CLEANING APPARATUS 7 Filed June 13 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

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Patented July 26, 1927.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASPER E. YOUNGCHILD, 01' PORT EDWARDS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO JOHN I.

ALEXANDER, 0]! PORT EDWARDS, WISCONSIN.

WIRE-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 13, 1925.

This invention relates to a wire cleaning apparatus and particularly to a brush mechanism which is adapted to be used for cleaning the wires of paper and pulp making machines. The wire cleaning device is suitable for use in cleaning Fourdrinier wires or cylinder wires while the same are in operation without, in any way, interfering with such operation. The brush mechanism is adapted to be oscillated if desired, but may be sta tionary as well.

In forming pulp or paper stock into a continuous web, on either Fourdrinier or cvlinder wires, it is always desirable to keep the wires clean in order that a better prod uct may be formed and also in order that the life of the wire may be lengthened. It is, therefore, customary to use water showers at different points in the travel of the wire to clean the same.

The use of large quantities of shower water, however, is expensive from several points of view. First, such water should be comparatively pure, requiring perhaps expensive treatment, such as filtering. Secondlv. a large amount of power must be expended to supply the necessary quantity of water at the required pressure. Thirdly, the addition of fresh shower water on a paper machine necessitates additional equipment and facilities for taking care of the surplus of water over and above the quantity of water that can be used in the operation of the machine. This equipment should include. in the interests of economy. means for reclaiming the stock in the water and also means for reclaiming a. greater part of the water. such means often requiring a considerable outlay of capital for save-alls, settling tanks and the like.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a simple and durable mechanism that satisfactorily and automaticallv keeps the wire clean, without the additional use of large quantities of fresh water.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the class described which may be operated by the Fourdrinier shake mechanism or may be separately driven as desired, or which may be operated as a stationary device.

It is another object of this invention to Serial 10. 38,857.

provide a wire cleaning apparatus which is adapted to keep the meshes of the wire open, and to remove grit from the wire, whereby there is less wear on the wire and the useful life thereof is greatly prolonged.

It is finally an important object of this 1nvent1on to provide a .wire cleaning apparatus whlch operates continuously and obviates the necessity of frequently stopping the machine.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken end elevation with parts omitted and parts in section of the wire table portion of a Fourdrinier paper machine, showing the wire cleaning apparatus of this invention as used herewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentar sectIOIltil view taken on line IIIIII of Figure t Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentar sectionall view taken on line IV-IV 0 Figure Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectlOnil view taken on line V-V of Figure Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectlOIlEil view taken on line VIVI of Figure Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentar sectionzil view taken on line VIIVII 0 Figure a Figure 8 is an end view, with parts omitted, of acylinder mould showing a modifieg form of my invention in use thereon, an

Figure 9 is a broken topplan view of the device illustrated in Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, there is shown a wire cleanin device embodying the principles of my mvention, as adapted to use with a Fourdrinier paper making machine. The reference numeral 1 indicates a pair of supports on either side of thetable rolls (not shown) on which rests the upper run of a continuous wire screen, or Fourdrinier wire, as it is commonly termed. When the machine is in operation, the wire is moved continuously over the table rolls, the lower run of said wire being su ported by suitable guiding and tension r0 Is, not shown. The cleaning apparatus of this invention is adapted to operate upon the lower run of the continuous Fourdrinier wire while the machine is in operation. In the drawings I have designated this lower run of the Fourdrinier wire by the reference numeral 2.

In the operation of the paper making machine the meshes of the wire often become clogged with particles of pulp, grit or other foreign matter and in order that the water may readily pass through the wire screen and also in order that the wire screen may be rendered flexible and pliable, it is desirable that this accumulated matter be cleaned from the lower run of the Fourdrinier wire before it returns to receive additional pulp to be formed into a sheet thereon. This result is effectively accomplished in the present invention by means of brushes 3 and 4 which extend transversely across and engage the upper and lower surfaces respectively of said lower run 2 of the Fourdrinier wire while the same is in operation. Said brushes 3 and 4 are mounted in suitable back blocks 5 and 6 respectively. Said back blocks 5 and 6 are in turn provided on the faces opposite the brushes with angular grooves 10 extending the length of the blocks, said grooves 10 being adapted to receive strips 7 and 8 respectively, which fit flush with the surface of said blocks. The stri 7- terminates short of the left hand end of t e back block 5 and an upper brush holder 9 fits into the remaining part of the groove 10. A pair of lower .brush holders 11 and 12 fit in like manner at the ends of the block 6 in the groove 10. These brush holders are secured to the respective blocks by screws or other suitable means so that the brushes may easily be removed and cleaned, or changed. The lower brush holders 11 and 12 are formed with flanged inner ends 13 and 14 bored at a slight angle to receive a reinforcing truss rod 15: A strut 16 is inserted between the rod 15 and the lower block 6 to support the middle part of the brushes. The brush holder 9 extends outwardly and is provided with an upwardly oflset bifurcated arm 17. The arm 17 is pivotally connected by a pin 20 to a link 18, which in turn is pivotally connected by a pin 21 to a rocker arm 19. The rocker arm 19 comprises a pair of spaced plates pivotally mounted on a pin 22 extending through a boss 55 on the support 1. The lower left hand brush holder ll'extends outwardly into a downwardly offset arm 23. A link 24 is pivotally connected at one end to said arm 23 by a pin 25 and at the other end to said rocker arm 19 by a pin 26. The lower extended end of the rocker arm 19 is ivotally connected to a connecting rod 27 y a pin 28. The rod 27 in turn is pivotally connected to a in 29 adjustably mounted on a disk 30 at t e end of a gear shaft 31. A motor 32 drives the gear shaft 31 through a worm' and gear both encased in the housing 33.

As best shown in Figure 7, the pin 29 is provided at one end with a block 60 adapted to slide in a groove 61 in the disk 30 and having a threaded bore. A threaded adjusting rod 62 passes through said bore, said rod being journalled at its ends in the end walls of the groove 61 for rotation only. A pair of collars 63 secured to the rod 62 on either side of one end wall of the groove 61 prevent relative lineal movement of the rod. Adjustment is made by amlying a wrench to the squared end 64 an rotating the rod in the required direction. In thiswav the pin 29 may be positioned eccentrically to provide for greater or less oscillatory movement of the brushes or the pin maybe positioned axially so that the brushes will remain stationary.

The right hand ends of the brush blocks 5 and 6 are guided by a guide 34, comprising a pair of plates 35 spaced apart by bushings 36 mounted on bolts 54 passing throu b said plates 35. The guide 34 is suporte from the support 1 by the two lower olts 54, which extend through bosses 55 in said support. It will be noted that the upper block 5 is supported solely through the brush 3 resting on the wire 2. The wire is, of course, supported by the lower brush 4, and the lower block 6 is in turn su ported upon adjustable rollers 37. The r0 lers 37 are rotatably mounted on pins 38 in bifurcated supports 39, which are threadingly adjustable vertically in a pair of brackets 40 secured to the supports 1. The lower brush holders 11 and 12 bear on the rollers 37 for rolling oscillatory movement.

The oscillation of the brushes is accomplished through the mechanism described, comprising the motor 32, the worm and gear, the pin 29, connecting rod 27 and the rocker arm 19. As is apparent, the upper and lower brushes oscillate in opposite directions, thus submitting the wire to a very thorough brushing action.

The rocker arm 19 may, if desired, be connected directly to the pitman or shaking post of the usual Fourdrinier shake mechanism, or said arm 19 may be rocked back and forth about the pivot point 22 b any'suitable driving mechanism. Or, as a ove stated, the pin 29 may be adjusted to give little or no oscillatory movement, the cleaning action being solely due to the shake of the wire and its translatory movement.

iao

It will be noted that the rocking of the arm 19 about the pivot point 22t'ransmits an oscillating motion through the links 18 and 24 and the pins 20 and 25 to the brush holders 9 and 11, whereby this oscillating movement is in turn transmitted to the brushes 3 and 4 to oscillate the same in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the Fourdrinier wire 2. The lower run of the wire is thus efiecti-vely cleaned to receive the pulp or paper web which is deposited thereon while it passes over the table rolls.

The brushes 3 and 4 may be conveniently made of any suitable metallic metal such as brasswire, or if desired, of any other suitable material, depending upon the circumstances under which they are to be used. These brushes may be conveniently removed for repair or replacement by unscrewing the blocks from the brush holders.

A modified form of my wire cleaning device is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, as used in connection with a wire covered cylinder mould. The reference numeral 41 indicates a cylinder mould, which is adapted to revolve in a vat containing dilute pulp or paper stock. The cylinder is covered with a wire cloth 42-on which the pulp or paper web is continuously formed. A usual type of couch roll 43 is shown resting on the cylinder 41, together with a felt 44 passing around the couch and over the guide rolls 45. As the cylinder revolves, it causes the couch roll also to revolve and to drive the felt. The felt picks the web of pulp or paper from the wire. A wire cleaning device is mounted on the other side of the cylinder from the couch roll, so that it may function on the wire from which the web of pulp or paper has just been removed. As here shown. the wire cleaning device comprises a single brush 46 in a back block 47. Said back block 47 extends the length of the cylinder and is guided at its reduced ends 56 by a pair of slotted guides 48. One of said ends56 is pivotally connected by a link 49 to an eccentric pin 50. The driving mechanism comprises a pulley 51 driven by a belt 52 from the shaft 57 of the couch roll 43, the drive being transmitted through a pair of spur gears 53 to a disk 54 upon which the pin 50 is eccentrically mounted. This driving mechanism imparts an oscillatory movement through the link 49 to the brush 46. As the brush rests by its own weight on the wire, it is evident that a very thorough brushing action results.

By the use of my invention. the apparatus embodying which is operated continuously and without necessity of shutting down the machine, it is possible to produce a superior sheet of paper or pul or similar material and the length of use ul life of the wire is alsogreatly extended.

While I have directed my invention for use in connection with the Fourdrinier and cylinder type of paper making machines, it will be understood that the same ma be cli'cctively used wherever it is desirab e to clean a moving wire screen or similar mesh material.

1 am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wire cleaning apparatus for paper machines comprising a plurality of wire cleaning brushes continuously reeiprocable in different directions.

A wire cleaning apparatus for paper machines comprising cleaning means for engaging a surface of a wire to be cleaned and means for reciprocating said cleaning means in a horizontal plane.

3. A wire cleaning apparatus for paper machines comprising cleaning means for engaging each surface of a wire to be cleaned, means for reciprocating said cleaning means in a horizontal plane and means for adjusting the position of said cleaning means.

4. The combination with a moving wire screen of cleaning means therefor oscillatable transversely of said screen.

5. The combination with a moving wire screen of vertically adjustable cleaning means therefor oscillatable transversely of said screen.

.6. A wire cleaning apparatus for paper machines comprising brushing means for engaging a surface of a wire to be cleaned and means for automatically reciprocating said brushing means over said surface and in the same plane therewith.

7. In a paper machine, the combination with a moving web of material, of a pair of cooperating flat brushes adapted to engage each surface of said web and means for reciprocating said brushes in opposite directions to effect a scrubbing action.

8. A wire cleaning apparatus comprising a pair of superposedbrushes adapted to engage the upper and lower surfaces of a wire passing therebetween, rolling means for supporting the lower of said brushes, the upper of said brushes being supported by the lower brush, and means for continuously reciprocating said brushes transversely of said moving wire.

9. A wire cleaning apparatus for paper machines, comprising a pair of superposed brushes extending transversely of the wire with the wire therebetween, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said brushes in opposite directions.

10. A wire cleaning apparatus, comprising an upper and lower brush mounted transversely of the wire with the wire therebetween, adjustable rollers for supporting the lower brush, the upper brush being partially supported by the lower brush and means for 12. The combination with the wire of a Fourdrinier paper machine, of :1 brush mechanism extending transversely of said wire and adapted to contact both faces of 1 said wire, and means for causing relative movement transversely of said wire between said brush mechanism and wire to effect a scrubbing action.

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto 20 subscribed my name.

CASPER E. YOUNGGHILD. 

